You Deserve Clear Vision. We Can Help. 

Welcome to Mountain Eye Associates

If you’re over age 60 and your vision isn’t as crisp and clear as it used to be, you may have cataracts. Don’t worry: this is a very common condition that affects most people as they grow older: by age 75, almost 50% of Americans have cataracts. In fact, most people can live with cataracts for a while – until they start to affect your freedom and lifestyle. 

The good news is that cataract surgery is a very common procedure: almost 2 million cataract surgeries are performed worldwide every year. Our cataract specialists perform hundreds of these procedures each year, helping our patients restore clear vision to their lives. (Some of our patients don’t even need reading glasses or bifocals after surgery!)

The only way to know if cataracts are affecting your vision – and if the time is right for surgery – is by scheduling a cataract evaluation with our team. We invite you to contact us today to arrange a convenient appointment time: call (828) 452-5816 or complete the form below: 


Information About Cataracts & Treatment Options

Symptoms of Cataracts

  • Blurred or cloudy vision
  • Colors appear faded, dull or yellowed
  • Lamps such as headlights or streetlights may have glare or halos; sunlight or fluorescent lights may appear too bright
  • Poor night vision
  • Double or multiple vision in one eye
  • Frequent prescription changes in your eyeglasses or contact lenses
  • Eventual blindness if left untreated

Cataract Surgery

Cataract surgery involves the removal of your cloudy lens so it can be replaced with a clear one. During surgery, your eyes are numbed with topical anesthesia (via eye drops). Your doctor then uses ultrasound energy through a tiny, minimally-invasive incision, to break up and remove the cloudy lens. 

We perform cataract surgery as an outpatient procedure on one eye at a time. If needed, surgery on the second eye is done after the first eye has fully healed (typically in 2 weeks). 

Office Locations for Cataract Evaluations

Sylva Office
137 Medical Park Loop
Sylva, NC 28779
(Get Directions)
Phone: 828-477-4572

Clyde Office
486 Hospital Drive
Clyde, NC 28721
(Get Directions)
Phone: 828-452-5816

 

Goodbye Cloudy Lens, Hello Clarity!

After your cloudy cataract lens is removed, we will replace it with a clear Intraocular Lens (IOL). You have many options – we’ll explain each one during your cataract evaluation. 

Lens Implant Options

In the past, the only type of replacement lens was a monofocal IOL. These lenses are still used today and can provide you with clear vision for one distance (most patients will still need glasses to see clearly up-close). However, it is possible to reduce or even eliminate your need for glasses after surgery by choosing a more advanced Lifestyle Lens. Options include: 

  • Multifocal IOLs: lenses with multiple planes of focus to allow for distance and up-close (reading) vision without glasses
  • Extended Range of Vision IOLs: the TECNIS© Symfony IOL is the latest advancement in lens technology to achieve a broader range of vision from distance to near
  • Trifocal IOLs: the PanOptix© Trifocal IOL delivers an exceptional combination of near, intermediate and distance vision while significantly reducing the need for glasses after surgery
  • Toric IOLs: correct astigmatism as well as cataracts

Life BEFORE Cataract Surgery

  • Your cloudy eyesight makes everyday tasks difficult
  • Driving, especially at night, becomes impossible
  • Colors appear yellowed and dull 
  • Depth perception is compromised
  • Reliance on others for detailed work and reading
  • Walking is hazardous with double vision

Life AFTER Cataract Surgery

  • You have control of your visual independence
  • Vivid colors reappear, cloudy haze disappears
  • Halos and glare around lights are minimized or eliminated
  • You may return to driving day and night
  • Reading glasses may not be needed (with Lifestyle Lenses)

 

Meet Our Cataract Specialists